Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Winston, NC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median $34,600 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,109 take-home, or $2,426 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Winston, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,972
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,145
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- North Carolina income tax$872
- Take-home pay$29,109
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Winston, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,570 | $13.25 | $23,723 | $1,977 |
| 25th percentile | $28,880 | $13.88 | $24,741 | $2,062 |
| Median (50th) | $34,600 | $16.63 | $29,109 | $2,426 |
| 75th percentile | $36,570 | $17.58 | $30,614 | $2,551 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,630 | $20.98 | $36,005 | $3,000 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,600 buys in Winston, NC
Prices in Winston, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,109 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,626 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Winston, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Winston, NC ranks #60 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 60 | Winston, NC | $34,600 | $29,109 | $31,626 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $37,030
- Asheville, NC — $36,590
- Greensboro, NC — $34,550
- Durham, NC — $36,170
- Raleigh, NC — $36,280
- Wilmington, NC — $34,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Winston, NC?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $34,600 a year, or about $16.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,880 and $36,570.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Winston, NC?
On the median $34,600 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,109 a year ($2,426 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $872 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Winston, NC a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,626 would in a typical U.S. city. Winston, NC ranks #60 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Winston, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Winston, NC is $1,031 a month ($1,164 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Winston, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,550
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,280